To Tip or Not to Tip? The Ins & Outs of Tipping Your Town Car or Limo Service Driver

Have you ever booked a vacation to a foreign country, and then tried to learn as much about the culture as you could in advance?

If so, when you first read about some of their customs, you might have shook your head in confusion. After all, some of these customs may have been fairly straightforward, while others may have seemed complex and utterly confusing.

With this in mind, when it comes to uniquely complex societal customs here in the U.S., there are probably none more confusing that tipping—even for those of us who’ve lived here our whole lives.

For instance, you know that you should always tip your waiter and your valet attendant, but what about the hardware store employee who helps carry supplies to your car? How about your housekeeper? Should you tip the person who bags your groceries? Your garbage collector?

Clearly, a wide gap exists for how much you should tip hard-working service-sector employees—or whether they should even be tipped at all.

In order to help put your mind at ease the next time you hire a taxi or town car and limo service, we thought we’d help remove any confusion surrounding three main questions:

Should you tip a taxi or limo driver?

When is it appropriate to tip?

How much should you tip a taxi or limo driver?

Let’s take a closer look.

Question #1: Should You Tip Your Limo Driver in the First Place?

Like most service professionals (e.g. hotel concierges, valet attendants, waiters, etc.), town car and limousine service drivers take a great deal of pride in providing their clients with exactly what they need, when they need it.

They often work diligently to make sure that your experience, whether it’s a brief ride to Sea-Tac or a daylong tour around Seattle, goes off without a hitch. But what does this mean for you?

This means that, if you need to make your flight, to get your family somewhere on time, to impress your clients, or a million other things, your Starline driver acts as part of your support network. And because of this, they deserve to be appropriately recognized for their commitment to your satisfaction.

Question #2: When is it Appropriate to Tip Your Limo or Town Car Driver?

Now that we’ve established why your driver might deserve to be tipped, when is it appropriate? In short, when you recognize that they’re going above and beyond and are providing an exemplary level of service.

After all, just like anyone else, your chauffeur should be rewarded for a job well done, which is something Starline tries to provide for each and every one of our clients.

Question #3: How Much Should You Tip Your Taxi or Limo Driver?

Frankly, this is the pink elephant in the room. After reading through the above, you know why and when to tip your limo or town car driver, but exactly how much is appropriate?

Most etiquette websites such as EmilyPost.com suggest a gratuity of 15-20% of the fare, although anywhere between 10% and 20% is considered perfectly acceptable.

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You Can Always Count on Starline for Your Limo Service Needs

At Starline, our professional, courteous drivers are among the best in the industry at getting you where you need to go, on time and in comfort and style. Find out for yourself by calling (206) 261-1191 or by making an online reservation today!